Suddenly when I try to download pictures from my camera, the camera utility window opens briefly displaying my pictures then an error window shows that says "failed to initialize program" and it won't allow me to download my pictures. I've uninstalled and reinstalled the software twice and that doesn't fix it.

Try NOT connecting your camera to your computer.The best way to download pictures from your camera to your computer involves removing the memory card from the camera and plugging it into a card reader (either built-in to the computer or connected via USB or FireWire). This is likely to be faster than connecting the camera to the computer, and won't run down your camera's batteries.Once the card is plugged in, it will appear to your computer as a removable drive. You can use the operating system's drag&drop facility to copy pictures from the card to the computer's hard drive, the same way you copy any other files. Or you can use any photo cataloging program.

Do what the pros do to avoid this very problem...use a card reader to download to a folder you create on the desktop. Once there, you can send the pics to iPhoto.

Are you sure your canon battery pack is OK?If not ,replace it with a high quality replacement battery pack.

Skip the use of your software for downloading the camera files.
Buy and use a card reader.
You can download files from the card reader, and use an editor to fix your pictures the way you want.
Save a bunch of time and effort!

open device manager, connect camera, it will be seen briefly with yellow triangle and exclamation mark. open it up and uninstall.
Disconnect camera and close windows down. Restart windows, connect camera and switch on, windows will then find it and install driver. Took me hours to figure this one out

The Kodak Easyshare software just index the pictures they do not store them at all
you can locate the pictures on the computer by

Click start
then look for search
type in in the search box *jpg
And it will display all the pictures that you have on your computer

To fix the problem regarding the easyshare software try uninstall it from your computer
Then download the clear utility www.kodak.com/go/clear
then download the latest version of the easyshare software www.kodak.com/go/easysharesw

I CANNOT DOWNLOAD PICTURE FROM MY CANON DIGITAL IXUS 8OOIS IT KEEP TELLING ME THERE ARE NO PICTURES WHILES ARE PICTURE ON THE CAMERA.

Start deleting pictures base on how good they are, importance and priority. Then by trial and error delete 50 pictures, download; 100 ... 200. Finally it download ... after 10-15 seconds wait. Total pictures deleted 1700 out of 4200. So there is a limitation on this type of camera with a 2GB chip, you have to stop taking pictures and change camera
chip when the total count reach 2500 + or - 50 pictures.

I would give this software a try:
http://www.download.com/VirtualLab-Data-Recovery/3000-2248_4-10610841.html?cdlPid=10801131
and be more vigilant about backing up your pictures. Flash memory can corrupt at any time. Good Luck.

you should enter the settings of the camera and select the right usb mode.
your camera will most likely have a setting like mass storage.
this is an easy mode and will show yo camera as an ordinary flash drive and when you plug it in windows can even give you an option to view pictures or even copy them to your documents.
Alternatively install any picture editing software and put the camera into any pictbridge mode and from within the software you will be able to view edit and save the pictures.
BUT i would recomend the first method because it is less technical.
Most like;ly your camera should have come with some form of its own software so i would recomend installing that and using that.
GOOD LUCK